ESPN is reporting that one-and-done USC sensation OJ Mayo allegedly received cash and other benefits from a man linked to BDA, an agent group based in Southern California.

First off, SHOCKER! This is the same kid who had an “associate” waiting for coach Tim Floyd in the coaches office, asking “How would you like to have the best player in the country?” The associate then went on to tell Floyd how Mayo wanted to market himself in L.A before jumping to the pro’s, and how we wanted a University that would allow him to do so.

The man involved in the first incident, Ronald Guillory, is the same man who is alleged to be the middle man between BDA and Mayo, so it shouldn’t come as a shock to Floyd or anyone else associated with this situation. Floyd was willing to take a flyer on Mayo and his talents; essentially signing a deal with the devil in hopes that they could go deep into the tourney, thus raising the profile of USC basketball and start a revival of sorts at the football-crazed school.

There is a ton of blame to go around - if the accusations are true - but the person/people who need to evaluate this more than anyone is the NCAA. The NCAA and NBA thought they were creating a better system by instituting an age limit for entry into the league, however, I think the system will actually produce more headaches than they realized.

Face it, many of these kids are either kids who see the NBA as a way out of a tough life or who have a less than stellar support system, and have people in their ears who are looking out for themselves and not the kids. When they are “forced” to go to school for one year they are going to be looking to make the biggest impact, create the marketing machine for the next step, and position themselves for endorsements/a large contract etc. Ensuring a huge payday once they do leave school. So you have a system rife for exploitation.

The NCAA and NBA either need to drop the age limit or extend it to be similar to the NFL, which requires players to be at least Juniors in college or three years removed from high school graduation. The one year limit essentially makes these kids hired guns. The school that can guarantee the highest exposure and best “accommodations” are going to be the benefactors of this system…but they are going to come at a cost.

Raising the age to at least two or three years, like the NFL, would allow these kids to be influenced less by outside forces such as agents etc. You would still have corruption, face it, if a kid wants to get paid, he is going to get paid. But you would have a less “Rent-a-Player” atmosphere than you do now.

Without totally absolving the age limit ( I am a huge proponent of an age limit), or increasing it, you are going to have similar stories pop up. Kids are going to be looking for a quick payday and will agents who are more than willing to “play ball”.